Page 72 of Twilight at Croftwood Library
Lois opened the be-wreathed front door and Oliver followed her into the house. The wreath on the outside was a mere hint at the amount of Christmas inside. The hall was decked with actual boughs of holly and ivy which wound their way up the banister. The whole place smelled like Christmas and after a few seconds Lois flipped a switch somewhere and hundreds of tiny fairy lights fluttered on around the edge of the ceiling.
‘Ah, I see you are the one who proved the correlation between fairy lights and Christmas spirit.’
She was beaming at him even though her socks and jeans were wet from tramping through the snow and her hair was in damp curls around her forehead. He was so glad he’d suggested this and that she’d said yes.
Oliver left his overnight bag in the hall while he took the food and drink he’d bought with him into the kitchen. He was surprised at how empty Lois’s fridge was before he remembered that she hadn’t planned on being here. Luckily, even though he’d been going away with Amy, he’d stocked up with all the essentials to make a Christmas lunch for them both when they got back because he couldn’t miss out on his annual bubble and squeak fry-up with the leftovers. He’d also grabbed a bottle of Prosecco, essential for Christmas morning, and a couple of bottles of red wine which he might mull if Lois fancied it.
‘We’re not going to starve, then,’ said Lois, walking into the kitchen wearing leggings, an oversized jumper and woolly socks. ‘Do you want a cup of tea?’
‘Yes, thanks. You can never have too much food at Christmas.’
‘That’s true.’
He watched her as she made the tea with her back to him, her curly hair tied on top of her head in a bunch.
‘Do you want to light the fire?’ she asked.
‘Definitely. It’s the law when it’s snowing outside. Oh, I should have bought marshmallows.’
She smiled at him. ‘Never mind. You’ve thought of everything else by the looks of it.’
He followed her into the lounge where she sat down in the corner of the sofa with her feet tucked up next to her, holding her mug with both hands.
‘The tree looks spectacular,’ he said, admiring the array of baubles and old-fashioned tinsel which sparkled in the glow of yet more fairy lights, adorning almost every branch with an overall effect which was surprisingly tasteful.
‘Thanks, I’m quite pleased to be spending Christmas with it after all.’
The wood in the basket next to the fireplace was nice and dry so it didn’t take him long to get the fire roaring. He glanced out of the window and saw that the snow was still falling steadily, reassuring him that he’d made the right decision and that he had no need to feel guilty about not being able to make it to Amy’s parents. Amy. He needed to call her to tell her he wasn’t coming, and he already knew she would be as mad as hell about it. He had promised Lois not to tell Amy that they were spending Christmas together, so he wouldn’t lie but he wouldn’t tell her either.
‘I’m just going to make a call,’ he said, excusing himself and going into the kitchen.
‘Hey, Amy…’
‘You’re not coming, are you?’ She sounded angry.
‘The snow’s really bad. I took the car out in case it was worse in Croftwood, but the roads are awful everywhere, even in Worcester.’ She didn’t speak so he added, ‘I’m so sorry.’
‘You should have closed the coffee house a day early as I suggested and then you could have come down with me.’
Or she could have waited for him, and they’d be at home together now.
‘I’m so sorry, I don’t know what to say. There’s nothing I can do, Ames.’
He heard her sigh gently. ‘Okay. I’m just disappointed. And you’ll be by yourself for Christmas.’
‘I got the three-bird roast for when we get back. I’ll cook that, it’ll be great.’
‘We’ll do presents when I get back?’
‘Yes, good idea. And say sorry to your mum and dad for me. I was looking forward to seeing them.’ He’d been nervous about seeing them again after everything that had happened, so he was grateful to the snow for that.
‘I will. Love you, Oliver. Call me tomorrow?’
‘Will do. Bye.’
He breathed a sigh of relief. Now he could relax. He went back into the lounge where Lois had put the television on and was flipping through the Radio Times Christmas edition.
‘So, we can watchThe HolidayorElf.’
